Vihiga teen fighting sickle cell
Joe Mudukiza, a sickle cell anaemia patient from Vihiga County, speaking to the Nation. PHOTO | DERICK LUVEGA |
What you need to know:
- Joe Mudukiza received his diagnosis when he was in Form One.
- “I have managed to collect 10,000 signatures in the last one month,,” he says.
As people all over the world marked Sickle Cell Anaemia World Awareness Day on Friday, a teenage survivor from Vihiga County says he is collecting signatures to petition the government to declare the disease a national disaster.
Joe Mudukiza, 19, went into a coma for a week in 2006 and was admitted at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret where he was treated and discharged. However, the disease was not detected.
He was later diagnosed while at Lumakanda Boys in Kakamega County when he was in Form One. He decided to raise awareness on behalf of others who have been diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia.
“I have managed to collect 10,000 signatures in the last one month. The United States has declared the disease a national disaster and I want our government to make the similar move,” he said.
The patient has authored five books as part of the campaign and are a source of funds. He also approaches politicians for funding.
“I spend over Sh20,000 monthly just to manage my treatment. This is burdensome to young people who don't have much. There is need for the intervention of well-wishers to assist sickle cell anaemia patients.
“I will fight for those children who are dying silently from this disease. Many people believe sickle cell anaemia is a curse. I want to create awareness for the people who don't know how to handle the disease,” he said.
He called on the government to ensure all the level five hospitals countrywide such as Vihiga District Hospital had sickle cell support centres which would also double up as awareness centres.
Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited blood disorder in the red blood cells. If diagnosed and managed well, a patient could lead a normal life.
